Girls Basketball: Byron rolls through, Oregon bows out at sectionals

AURORA - While one Big Northern Conference team steamrolled its way into the Aurora Christian Sectional finals, another one bowed out Tuesday night, along with one of the most prolific guards to ever play in the league, Sam Lambrigtsen.

Byron (28-3) broke out of its habit of battling down to the final seconds by building a 30-point, third-quarter lead and controlling the game the whole way during a 63-26 blowout of the Aurora Christian (15-14) hosts. It nearly set up an all-BNC sectional final, but Lambrigtsen's 27-point effort and Oregon's constant fighting mentality came up just short as the Hawks fell 62-57 in overtime to Prophetstown in the first semi of the night.

"We've never played better than this, and even when it seemed like it was over a couple of times, we kept battling," said Lambrigtsen, who finished her career with 2,042 points, and two regional titles, with Oregon. "It feels crazy that it's over. I've been playing with these same girls for 10 years now, and it's actually over.

"We gave it all we had, though."

Lambrigtsen and Oregon (19-12), packed with nine seniors, led by one at halftime but were outscored by nine in the third. Prophetstown's Heather Strike drained two of her four 3-pointers as the Prophets scorched the nets during the third-quarter run, and Corrie Reiley helped Prophetstown go 5-for-7 from the free-throw line in overtime during her 14-point night. Karlie Stafford added 12 points in the win, and Lambrigtsen and the Hawks managed only three points in the extra period to end their season.

As for Byron, which had gone into overtime, double-overtime, or battled down to the wire in five of their last six wins, Tuesday night's win looked easy. The Tigers' lone senior Mayson Whipple drained an early 3-pointer and then scored six points during the second quarter, when the tide really swung Byron's way.

"I think we got hot early, and they started to get a little upset. We got to them," said Whipple, who finished with a game-high 18 points while adding in four assists, four rebounds and two steals as well. "Lexi (DeVries) really found her shot there, too, and that sparked us big time."

DeVries, a freshman who has worked her way into the starting lineup, had seven points in the second quarter, going 3-for-4 from the field and helping to fuel a 14-2 run. Aurora Christian went 1-for-12 from the floor in the third quarter as it only got worse for the sectional hosts, and better for the surging Tigers.

"When we get off to a start like that," said DeVries, who finished with 15 points, "we're really tough to catch."

Junior center Ellie Lehne went 5-for-8 from the field, 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, tallied 15 points, had 10 rebounds and six blocked shots to help boost Byron into Thursday's sectional final against Prophetstown.